Container and closure therefor



SephlG, 1958 M. B. MOTLEY 2,852,054

CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 23. 1956 R O T N E V m Mann r 5. Mo 71.57

BY WW United States Patent CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Murat Brunson Motley, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 624,146

4 Claims. (Cl. 150-.5)

This invention relates to containers and particularly to covered cylindrical containers made of plastic which are easily opened and closed, the cover providing a moistureproof seal.

The present invention is directed to a plastic container preferably molded from polyethylene, and which is moistureproof, light in weight, non-breakable, and inert to the majority of chemicals. It may be easily opened and closed with one hand and is particularly suitable for photographic film, such as 35 mm. film strips, home articles such as buttons, seeds, etc., or for various other small articles such as pins, clips, labels, pills, capsules, pen nibs, etc. The smooth, polyethylene plastic is durable, retains its shape, and will not scratch.

One important feature of the container is its closure construction which utilizes a thin, tapered, flared rim, which may be easily molded, and which provides a dependable moistureproof seal. In most containers having a projecting annular rim or bead for holding a cap or lid, the bead is semi-rigid and extends beyond the diameter of the neck of the container. For such constructions, reference is made to U. S. Patents No. 2,415,609, of February 11, 1947; No. 2,610,762, of September 16, 1952; and No. 2,690,861, of October 5, 1954. It has been found that the constructions shown in these patents are more diflicult to mold than applicants tapered, flexible sealing flange. The container of the invention has this thin, tapered flange of the same diameter as the main body of the container to facilitate molding, closing and opening of the container and easy access for filling and removal of the contents.

The container is also provided with a snap-in insert label on which the contents of the container may be indicated, the container being made in any desired color with a flexible hinge which prevents the loss of the cover or cap when opened. This feature is especially desirable for hospital and pharmaceutical use where identification of the containers contents is of the utmost importance.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved covered plastic container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic container which may be easily and economically molded and which has a moistureproof seal and may be easily identified.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cylindrical plastic container which has a sealing closure which is moistureproof and easily opened and closed with one hand.

A better understanding of this invention may be had from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along the line 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring, now, to the drawings in which the same 2,852,054 Patented Sept. 16, 1958 reference numerals indicate the same elements, the container 5 is cylindrical in shape and has a cover cap or lid 6 attached to the body portion 7 by 'a flexible plastic strap or hinge 8. Although the container may be of different sizes, a preferred size is one having a diameter of approximately 1 /2 inches and a height of approximately 1 /2 inches. The cylindrical body portion 7 has a wall and bottom of approximately of an inch thick with an upper extending annular shoulder bead 10 to form a seat for the cover 6. Extending above the bead 10 is a thin, flexible, tapered rim or flange 12, which is slightly flared outwardly. Because of its thinness, this rim has considerable flexibility.

The lid or cap 6 has a wall section 13 and a top section 14 in which a dovetailed recess is formed for the positioning of a circular label disc 15 which may be written upon to indicate the contents of the container. An annular ridge or bead 17 is along the inner surface of the wall 13 and is adapted to exert pressure on the flexible flange 12 so that the upper edge of the flange 12 is forced into the annular recess between the top section 14 and the bead 17. In this manner, when the edge of the wall 13 rests on its seat 10, a waterproof seal is provided for the container.

As indicated in Fig. l, the container may be held in one hand and the cover 6 flipped open with the thumb by pressure on a tab 19 extending from the top section 14 of the cover, the pressure being applied substantially along the axis of the container. The cover may be replaced on the container by the reverse operation.

As mentioned above, such a container has many uses, it is economical to produce and is durable, will not scratch and may be placed in fishing boxes or tool boxes without fear of the containers becoming open or being damaged. They may be semi-transparent for identifying their contents and are particularly suitable for 35 mm. film strips.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a cylindrical body portion having a height approximately the same as the diameter of said body portion, an outer annular bead adjacent the opening of said container and having an annular shoulder with a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of said container and a connecting flat surface parallel with the axis of said container, a cylindrical outwardly flaring tapered flange extending beyond said bead, the rim of said flange being thin compared with the base of said flange and semi-rigid, and a closure member for said container having a wall section adapted to rest on the first-mentioned flat surface and contacting said second-mentioned flat surface of said shoulder, said member having a top section, said Wall section having an inner annular bead adapted to force the rim of said tapered flange into the annular recess between said inner bead and the inner surface of said top section of said closure member.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1 in which said closure member is hinged to said outer bead and is provided with a tab for removing said closure member from said container.

3. A container comprising a cylindrical body portion, an outer annular bead adjacent the opening to said container, said bead having an annular shoulder with a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of said container and a connecting fiat surface parallel with the axis of said container, a cylindrical flange integral with said body portion and extending beyond said head, said flange being tapered outwardly to a thin flexible edge having a greater diameter than the edge of said flange connected to said body portion, and a cap for closing said container, said cap having a wall section, a top section, and a bead extending from the inner surface of said wall section, said last-mentioned bead positioning the thin edge of said flange in the annular recess between said last-mentioned bead and the inner surface of said top section and said wall section of said cap having two fiat surfaces perpendicular to one another adapted to contact said flat surfaces and the annular head of said body portion when said body portion is closed by said cap.

4. A container in accordance with claim 3 in which said container and cap are polyethylene, a flexible hinge being provided between said cap and container.

1,093,735 Shapiro Apr. 21, 1914 Nesser Apr. 15, Brown Dec. 14, Vogel Sept. 27, Cowan Aug. 24, Tupper Oct. 5, Jewell July 26, Tupper Jan. 8, Nalle Feb. 5,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 2, 

